St. Patrick
March 17, 2011
St. Patrick
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Dear Family of Mary! "Dear children! You know that I promised you an oasis of peace, but you don't know that beside an oasis stands the desert, where Satan is lurking and wanting to tempt each one of you. Dear children, only by prayer are you able to overcome every influence of Satan in your place. I am with you, but I cannot take away your freedom. Thank you for having responded to my call." (August 7, 1986) This message gives us a visual image of what is going on in the spiritual world. Our Lady of Medjugorje has created an oasis of peace in Medjugorje, and also in our hearts as we respond to her call. She is present in our hearts, and this keeps Satan at bay. He flees from her sight. But he doesn't go far. He remains close enough to whisper his persuasive, enticing thoughts in a continual barrage upon our minds and hearts, trying to wear us down and weaken our defenses. He does not sleep. Precisely because we are close to Our Lady, he works harder and harder to destroy us. He knows that it is her children who are his greatest threat. Our Lady makes it clear that it is only by prayer that we can "overcome every influence of Satan in [our] place." Only by constantly pressing tightly to Our Lady's heart can we resist Satan's attacks. Constant prayer which keeps us close to Jesus and Mary is our safety. St. Patrick was an experienced spiritual warrior. He faced the enemy in Ireland day in and day out. It is no wonder his famous prayer, the Lorica, is a prayer for protection from evil. We can pray it together as we press tightly against the heart of our Mother. Lorica of Saint Patrick I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through a belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
Of the Creator of creation. I arise today
Through the strength of Christ's birth and His baptism,
Through the strength of His crucifixion and His burial,
Through the strength of His resurrection and His ascension,
Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom. I arise today
Through the strength of the love of cherubim,
In obedience of angels,
In service of archangels,
In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In the prayers of patriarchs,
In preachings of the apostles,
In faiths of confessors,
In innocence of virgins,
In deeds of righteous men. I arise today
Through the strength of heaven;
Light of the sun,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of the wind,
Depth of the sea,
Stability of the earth,
Firmness of the rock. I arise today
Through God's strength to pilot me;
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's hosts to save me
From snares of the devil,
From temptations of vices,
From everyone who desires me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone or in a mulitude. I summon today all these powers between me and evil,
Against every cruel merciless power that opposes my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom,
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of women and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul.
Christ shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that reward may come to me in abundance. Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye that sees me,
Christ in the ear that hears me. I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through a belief in the Threeness,
Through a confession of the Oneness
Of the Creator of creation St. Patrick (ca. 377)
(prayer found at http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/prayers/patrick.htm ) In Jesus and Mary!
Cathy Nolan
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